If you've read the previous issues of our book with the character Zsasz, you can recognize the red/black way he sees the world thru his eyes. This is a cover based on that.
12 x 18 acrylic ink and watercolor, 300lb hotpress.
the solicitation reads-
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #9 On Sale February 17 • 40 pg, FC, $3.99 US Written by Paul Dini; co-feature written by Marc Andreyko Art by Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs • co-feature art by Jeremy Haun • Cover by Dustin Nguyen It’s Batman, Robin and Abuse against Zsasz’s army! Will the heroes be able to save the captured children in time? And in the Manhunter co-feature, the trial takes a turn as Jane Doe has a new suspect on her radar – the ever dangerous Black Mask!
our short story featuring the little Gothams [link] came out today in the BATMAN ANNUAL #27. I wanted to kick it off with another piece featuring some fun sized batman.
what better way than old man bruce and carrie kelly?
thanks ahead of time to those who give this issue a shot, it has definitely been a passion project for derek and i, and those who know me or at least follow my blog or journal work here on deviant, know that i've been pushing this for the past 3+ years.
yes, that's me looking off to the distance...away from the camera. i should have changed my shirt now thinking about it.
It is mostly about the show and how the folks putting it together plan to run things, how we all hope for it to be a success. See you guys in a few days!
so we've finally managed to get this project rolling a bit! The great folks over at DCU blog showed us some love this morning, then newsarma and CBR gave us a bit more press, and i'm hoping it starts spreading like the rage virus ( been watching a lot of 28 days, weeks.. hopefully months soon.)
anyway- back in July of 2008, i did this piece of all my favorites from the Gotham City cast and got great feedback, so i decided to pursue it. DC is awesome.
Next month, I team up with my long time friend Derek Fridolfs and also artist/writer who inks our Batman: Streets of Gotham- to bring you guys- Little Gothams! We will have two, 2 page stories in each of the annuals out that month. One called Off Rogue Racing, from above and one titled Questions and Answers, from below. I know- not really HUGE stories, but then they are not really HUGE characters haha.
And to answer the one question everyone including people internally ask-
NO, they are NOT kids. Why do they look that way? Because the stories we want to tell aren't all that serious- they are fun, whimsical, light hearted, and very all ages friendly. Derek and I both have a huge love for the animation and stories we grew up with, and the majority of it will be homage back if not referencing back to those- with a twist of our own. With that, i figure i can take the style to something a bit more fun and whimsical as well. Obviously im not the first to do this style, but its a style i do enjoy drawing in at times when i am done drawing mature readers books and murder mysteries for the night. My kids also enjoy seeing them a lot, and its something i can share with them at the end of the day.
so as they say- carpet denim! Thanks for looking everyone, please give it a shot next month.
Hey folks, super excited about the con this weekend, here is the print i'll be having this year in a super sexy 12 x 18 banner size for folks. This along with a few others you'll find only in artist alley, with tons of original art for sale as well. i also, will be doing the free head sketch with each purchase for folks. the times and days i'll be at the DC Booth for signing and sketching this summer for SDCC.-
THURSDAY
3-4pm – SIGNING: DC booth
FRIDAY
12:30-1:30pm – PANEL: Batman New Dynamic (Room 6DE)
3-4pm – SIGNING: DC booth
SATURDAY 12-1pm – SIGNING: DC booth
when not there, i will be in Artist Alley table at FF-04
hope to see you soon in person, thanks for the continued watch, comments, and encouragements! be well folks.
-dustin
new issue of BATMAN: Streets of Gotham out today 7/14!the
cover to our 5th issue of Batman: Streets of Gotham
my first shot at Huntress on a cover, i've not been keeping up wiht her lately, so was given reference for the costume. i can hear fans everywhere complaining to no end already. Manbat was a first as well, but he's been wearing the same thing since the 80's right? or 70s? painted it at the same time as my hellboy/batman piece so i went with the similar sky color scheme. force of habit i guess.
1- normally for a cover, i work with a collaborative with the writer ( in this case, mr paul dini) and our editor. I normally shoot out about 2-4 sketches roughed in photoshop if i have time.
This time around, Paul actually sent in a picture he took of himself holding a knife included with a video clip of an old b&w movie to give the perfect feeling of the characters mood and gestures. it was dead on what we wanted to get across i felt. but still, keeping things open, i tried a few other layouts. none was as effective as paul's, and i knew it. so i went with #1.
2- i do a cleaner linework i can use. blow it up to 12 x 18 and trace it over to 300lb softpress paper ready to paint.
3- using liquid masking, i cover up everything but the background. i went with a simple dripping blood red so that the background provides enough for the character's mood, but not to overpower it with useless details. his expression and gesture shoudl be most important and nothing else.
4- removed the masking and going forward to paint in the main character, im horrible with painting a likeness and making stuff look real, so i rarely even try. plus if i wanted realism, i'd take a picture, watercolor is fun because it paints itself.
5- i come back with color pencil and ink and add in all the scar marks that Zsasz uses to tally up his kills. real scar marks will not be this dark, scar tissue leaves a pinkish purple tone and most the time way lighter. In this character, i felt it was more striking to show the markings than to make it "real" real. plus with as many cuts as he has, pinkish purple woudl make him look more diseased than dangerous crazy.
6- i add in batman's shadow using photoshop, it doesn't completely wrap around him like in a real photo, but it works well without warping too much of the silhouette so you can tell its batman.
i was very tempted to do another layer of paint to use for the shadow, but there were so many textures and linework going on already, i felt one more layer of paint would come off more as texture rather than a casting shadow.
also- at this stage, i readjust the colors scanned into photoshop which is why it looks darker than the previous.
* ive found the best way to scan watercolor if you cant photograph it is to scan in full color, create a duplicate of it and set that layer to multiply. all the colors you've lost through the light shooting right thru your transparent watercolor should not be back without leveling or using your curves. hope that answers any questions about that part.
hey everyone, first off- wow, thanks for all the comments and people checking out my 4th july piece ( over at my deviant site - not here, because this place is a ghost town)- so patriotism pays off in the end! really though, thank you so much and thanks for the new watches to those who've just found the page. you are much appreciated.
second, i had to post this-
the bat-blog: http://tomztoyz.blogspot.com/ ( not mine btw)
if you're a fan of batman like myself, you either have already heard of this site or shoudl head there now. even if your just the casual pin collector at shows, or cosplay for no reason by to strut your stuff, or just into the animated series and forward, this site is still fun as hell and has something for everyone. i visit pretty often just to see what i've missed in the batworld.
working on a tight schedule and in recluse all day, all month, you'd be amazed how out of touch some of us artists really are. you'd think because i work in comics, i'd know everything there is to know and all major happenings and events.
truth? most of us know what's GOING to happen, but just not how. I keep up with most batman bbooks to know, but half the time, im more behind than most readers. sure they told us about grayson being batman over a year ago, but i just found out last month it happened. yes. lame.
anyway, on the site, i ran across this old interview of michael keaton around the opening time of Tim Burtons' first Batman-
i loved the latest dark knight, i totally dig Bale as batman and Ledger as joker, but somethign about Keaton made me really really liek him as batman. He totally embraces the role and i felt like he was a true fan of the character either before or after. doesnt matter. the dude is funny as hell and you can tell he loves being batman.
Scott Medelson writes and excellent break down of how that movie changed the movie business back in '89 ( seriously, thats the title as well) -
i was 13 when that movie came out and it was a great time to be a batman fan, as much as it is now. 70 years later, and its still one of the most popular icons. you gotta wonder why.
hey gang, i am off to the Heroes show in Charlotte right now, but did want to also spread the word on one more event coming up right afterwards so that it's not too late when i get back.
Next Saturday June 27th 1-2pm. I will be signing at the TFAW aka "Things From Another World" location at Universal Citywalk at Universal Studios Hollywood. Please stop by if you are in the area or just wanna hang out. i'll be doing free headsketches, signing books, chattin it up with readers and such. We also have some prints for sale if you didn't get a chance to pick them up at a show this year! Their official Website is www.tfaw.com and here's the address if you need it -
1000 Universal Center Dr #179 Universal City, Ca 91608
there's fun to be had for all! Be well, take care of yourselves... and each other.
hey folks, i am headed out this week to the Heroes show happening in Charlotte NC this weekend. Please stop by if you decide to attend, i'll be signing at the DC Comics booth as well as in artist alley with tons of original art from the Superman/Batman run, Detective Comics, and even some from this month's Batman: Streets of Gotham issue.
swing by, get stuff signed, pick up prints, get sketches, say hey.
dustin draws comics for a living and sleeps in his spare time. he dreams of retiring to sleep all day and draw comics in his spare time.
he draws a lot of batman stuff.
